Wildlife rehabilitator Christy Hargrove introduced this day in 2001. Hargrove chose a day in the middle of winter because of the lack of food for squirrels around this time of year.

There are over 280 different types of squirrels, which vary in size, from the 5-inch African Pygmy squirrel to the 3-foot Indian Giant Squirrel. Since the winter months leave squirrels without much to forage, help a squirrel out today by putting out some extra food for them to nibble on. They of course love to eat nuts and assorted seeds as well as various fruits and vegetables.